Control box



April 13, 1937.

w. 1'. BAILEY 2,077,163

CONTROL Box v Filed June` 11, 1956 ATTORNEY 1 Patented Apr. 13, 1937UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application June 11,

2 Claims.

This invention relates to control devices for toy electric trains andthe like, and deals more particularly with a device for starting andstopping a train, and for controlling a special device 5 on said trainsuch as a whistle or the like.

In toy trains, the whistle is a device which is operated by means of adirect current relay receiving its energy, when the train passes over acertain portion of track, from a rectifier placed across the A. C. line.This rectifier has been a constant source of annoyance due to itspropensity to burn out.

The present invention therefore seeks to provide improved control meansof the character described, in which small inexpensive dry cells areemployed for supplying the current for the whistle operating relay.

The invention also contemplates the provision of means for operating atoy train whistle at any .lo portion of the track, and also contemplatesmeans for completely silencing said whistle.

More specifically the invention contemplates the provision of a small,compact control box adapted to be connected between the source ofcurrent and the train tracks, said control box including a throw switchfor initiating the operation of the train, and said switch beingselective as to the automatic operation of the whistle. The control boxis also provided with a 30 train stopping switch and a switch foroperating the train whistle when the train is at any portion of thetracks.

With the above objects and features in mind, the invention comprises thecombination and ar- 35 rangement of parts as illustrated in theaccompanying drawing in which, by way of example, is shown a preferredform of device.

In the drawing: Fig. l. is a top plan view of a control box as 40 hereincontemplated.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof as viewed on the line 2-2 of Fig.3.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View as taken on the line 3 3 of Figs. land 2.

#5 Fig. 4 is a similar sectional view, partly fragmentary, as taken onthe line ft--fi of Figs. l and 2.

Fig. 5 is an edge View of the dry cell carrying means.

50 Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic View of the device as interconnected with asource oi electric current and a set of train tracks.

In greater detail, the box comprises a top plate IU oi dielectricmaterial adapted to be set over 55 the open end of a receptacle or boxII and to be 1936, Serial No. 84,665

(Cl. 10i-149) removably secured thereto as by means of the nuts l2. Thetop plate Il is preferably provided with the binding posts I3, I4, I5and I3, the posts I3 and I6 being extended to form support means foranother dielectric plate I'I and being further extended therebelow to beelectrically connected to each other as by means of a bus connection I8.

In practice, the binding post I3 is connected to one side of thesecondary winding I9 of a stepped-down transformer 23 in the A. C. line,and the binding post I4 is connected to the other side thereof. Theposts I5 and I6 are respectively connected to the main or primaryportion oi the middle rail 2l of the track and the live rail 22 thereof.

A switch arm 23, pivoted at 24, is adapted to be contacted with eitherof the contact terminals 25 or 26. These two terminals are respectivelyconnected to opposite poles of the dry cells 2l as by means of theconductors 28 and 29 and the cell contacting means and 3l. In thepresent instance the negative cell contacting means 3i is designed inthe form of a partial strap which forms a saddle for supporting thecells, screw means such as shown at 32 and connected to the dielectricplate I'I being employed for this purpose. One of the screws 32 ispeculiarly adapted for the connection of the conductor 29.

A push button 33 is engaged with one leaf 3ft of a simple make and breakswitch which includes also another contact leaf 35. This switch isarranged to one side of the switch 23, and on the other side of saidswitch 23 there is arranged another switch comprising the contact leaves3B, 31 and 38 and the push button 39.

In the present instance the leaf 34 is connected to the leaf 38 as bymeans of a bus bar di), the leaf 35 is connected to the binding post I4as by means of the conductor lil the leaf 31 is connected to the bindingpost I5 as by means of a conductor 42, and the leaf 36 is connected tothe switch contact 26 as by means of the conductor 43. A connection illis also made between the bus bar 40 and the switch contact 25. Themiddle rail 2| of the train tracks is provided with a secondary sectionwhich is insulated, as shown, from the main portion of the rail 2|,which is electrically connected as by means of the conductors 43 withthe switch terminal 24.

The train or locomotive designated generally as T has at least one wheelW and a rail shoe S in circuit with the locomotive motor M, said wheeland shoe also being connected to the relay of a combined whistle andrelay assembly designated at X.

The foregoing is generally descriptive of the makeup and connections ofthe control device as 5 applied to a usual form of toy electric trainprovided with a whistle. It is understood, however, that the abovedescribed control unit is also adapted to other devices wherein aconstant alternating current and both an automatic and manuallycontrolled direct current are desired.

In operation, with the switch arm 23 set on the contact 26, the circuitfor the train motor is as follows:

From the A. C. line through the transformer 20 to the terminal I3, busI8, terminal |6, live rail 22, locomotive wheel W, locomotive motor M,shoe S, middle rail 2|, terminal I5, conductors 42, switch leaves 31 and38, bus 40, switch 34 and 35, conductor 4| terminal I4 and back to thetransformer 20. With this circuit the train will operate on the track.When it is desired to stop the train the push button 33 is pushedbreaking the circuit between the switch leaves 34 and 35.

The automatic whistle circuit which is also formed at this time is asfollows:

Insulated rail section 45, conductor 46, switch terminal 24, switch arm23, contact 26, conductor 28, dry cell contactors 30, dry cells 21,contactors 3|, conductors 29 and 44, bus 40, switch 34 and 35, conductor4| terminal I4, through the secondary winding I9 of the transformer 2D,terminal I3, bus I8, and terminal I6 to the live rail 22. From theforegoing it will be seen that 35 as the shoe S contacts the section 45of the middle rail 2 I, the foregoing circuit will be establishedthrough the whistle relay X and each time the locomotive passes overthis section the whistle will operate.

l0 It will also be noted that the train operating circuit is notinterrupted as the locomotive passes over the above mentioned insulatedsection, since A. C. current to the shoe S will be conducted from thebus to the conductors 44 and 29 and thence through the dry cells to theswitch contact 26 and switch 23.

When it is desired to operate the locomotive whistle at a point on thetrack other than at the location of the insulated section 45, the switchbutton 39 is depressed. When this is done the battery current from thedry cells travels as follows:

Center rail 2|, terminal I5, conductor 42, leaves 31 and 36, conductors43 and 28, dry cell contactors 30, dry cells 21, contactor 3|,conductors 29 and 44, bus 40, switch 34 and 35, conductor 4|, terminalI4, transformer secondary winding I9, terminal I3, bus I8, terminal I6,and live rail 22. In this manner a low potential direct 60 current issuperimposed on the relatively higher potential alternating currentwhich is energizing the train motor M. These two currents are brought tothe wheel W and shoe S" of the locomotive to be utilized respectively bythe locomotive motor M" and the whistle and relay assembly X,

When it is desired to operate the train but to cut out the automaticwhistle as the locomotive passes over the section 45, the switch arm 23is set on the contact 25. This cuts out direct current to the insulatedrail 45.

From the foregoing it can be seen that a simple, compact and inexpensivecontrol device has been disclosed in its preferred form of embodiment.It is also obvious that immaterial changes not involving invention maybe made by skilled persons, hence the invention as claimed should ratherbe interpreted in the light of the prior art than on the instantdisclosure.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In combination, a source of alternating current, a source of directcurrent, a current takeoff member comprising a primary portion and asecondary portion, means, including a switch, for conducting andcontrolling the ow of alternating current to said primary and secondaryportions, means partially co-extensive with said rstnamed means and,including another switch, for conducting and controlling the ow ofdirect current to said primary portion, means partially coextensve withsaid first and second-named means for normally conducting direct currentto said secondary section, and a third switch included in said lastnamed means, for completely interrupting the flow of the direct currentonly to said primary and secondary portions.

2. A control device for an alternating current operated toy train havinga direct current operated audible signal comprising sources ofalternating current and direct current, a current takeoff memberincluding a primary portion and a secondary portion, means, including aswitch, for conducting and controlling the flow of the alternatingcurrent to said primary and secondary portions to operate and stop thetrain, means partially co-extensive with said first-named means fornormally conducting direct current to said secondary portion toautomatically operate said signal as the train passes over saidsecondary portion, means partially co-extensive with said rst andsecond-named means and, including another switch, for conducting andcontrolling the flow of direct current to said primary portion tomanually operate said signal as the train passes over any part 0f saidprimary portion, and a third switch included in said last named means,for completely interrupting the flow of the direct current to preventthe operation of said signal as the train passes over both said primaryand secondary portions.

WILLIAM T. BAILEY.

